The TWA Flight Center opened in 1962 at New York's Idlewild Airport, later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport. Eero Saarinen and Associates designed the terminal for Trans World Airlines. Its sweeping concrete roof and large areas of glass gave the airline a distinctive identity, making arrival at the building part of the promise of air travel.
Curves continue through the interior. Stairs, railings, counters and the enclosed passageways to the gates belong to a related family of shapes. Changes in level organize the open central space, while skylights and window walls emphasize its upward movement. The building translated circulation into an architectural event, with a succession of spaces that suggested both motion and anticipation.
Beyer Blinder Belle later restored the historic Flight Center for its reuse as the lobby of the TWA Hotel. New hotel wings stand behind it, allowing the original building to remain the central public room. The project repaired concrete and glass and recovered interior finishes, demonstrating how a specialized transportation building could acquire another use while preserving its memorable spatial character.
Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen
